John LaZar
Encyclopedia
John LaZar is a classically trained American
actor
of both stage and screen.
LaZar grew up in San Francisco, California
and is of Mediterranean and Native American
heritage. He is best remembered for his lead role as Ronnie 'Z-man' Barzell in the 1970s Russ Meyer
film Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
(1970). His character in the film is a Svengali
-type pop music producer who speaks in Shakespearean-sounding sentences and whose eccentricities descend into a drug-induced, deranged lunacy in the film's climax.
LaZar would also appear as Cal McKinney in Supervixens
(1974), also by Russ Meyer
, and Roger Corman
's DeathStalker Two.
A veteran of many Shakespearean stage productions and well-respected acting schools, Lazar is also a martial arts
expert and schooled fencer
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
of both stage and screen.
LaZar grew up in San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and is of Mediterranean and Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
heritage. He is best remembered for his lead role as Ronnie 'Z-man' Barzell in the 1970s Russ Meyer
Russ Meyer
Russell Albion "Russ" Meyer was a U.S. motion picture director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor, actor and photographer....
film Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is a 1970 American schlock melodrama film starring Dolly Read, Cynthia Myers, Marcia McBroom, John LaZar, Michael Blodgett and David Gurian...
(1970). His character in the film is a Svengali
Svengali
Svengali is a fictional character of George du Maurier's 1894 novel Trilby. Svengali "would either fawn or bully and could be grossly impertinent. He had a kind of cynical humour that was more offensive than amusing and always laughed at the wrong thing, at the wrong time, in the wrong place...
-type pop music producer who speaks in Shakespearean-sounding sentences and whose eccentricities descend into a drug-induced, deranged lunacy in the film's climax.
LaZar would also appear as Cal McKinney in Supervixens
Supervixens
Supervixens is a 1975 sexploitation film by American filmmaker Russ Meyer. The cast features Meyer regulars Charles Napier, Uschi Digard, and Haji...
(1974), also by Russ Meyer
Russ Meyer
Russell Albion "Russ" Meyer was a U.S. motion picture director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor, actor and photographer....
, and Roger Corman
Roger Corman
Roger William Corman is an American film producer, director and actor. He has mostly worked on low-budget B movies. Some of Corman's work has an established critical reputation, such as his cycle of films adapted from the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, and in 2009 he won an Honorary Academy Award for...
's DeathStalker Two.
A veteran of many Shakespearean stage productions and well-respected acting schools, Lazar is also a martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
expert and schooled fencer
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
.